Adopting is always a great decision whether your dog just passed away or you’re looking for companionship. You’ll come across hundreds to thousands of dogs in adoption centers, which makes it highly likely that one of the pooches is your perfect match.
To help your search for the right dog much easier, I’ve made a guide on where to go for dog adoptions, which includes their backstories and contact information. Keep reading as you discover the best dog rescues in Durham, North Carolina.
12 Best Dog Rescues in Durham, NC
1. Animal Protection Society of Durham
The Animal Protection Society has managed the Durham County Animal Shelter since 1990 and has been around the community, helping animals since 1970.
With this being a non-profit organization, donations and other forms of help are what keep them surviving. All the money they receive and raise goes directly for the food, shelter, and medication of all the animals they take.
Yearly, they take care of around 4,000 animals from various circumstances. You can undoubtedly find a dog from here and once you do, start the adoption process immediately while they’re available.
How to contact them:
Website: Animal Protection Society of Durham
Address: 2117 E. Club Blvd., Durham, NC 27704
Phone: 919-560-0640
Email: [email protected]
You may also reach out through their social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
2. Charley’s K-9 Rescue
Charley’s K-9 Rescue is a reasonably new one. Though they just started in September 2020, around 396 dogs were already saved. It’s located in Butner, near the Research Triangle of Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill.
This is an excellent dog rescue if you want a bully breed. Many bully breeds end up in shelter homes due to misconceptions and other circumstances.
Charley’s K-9 Rescue focuses on providing these dogs with loving homes. But while they’re waiting to be noticed by a potential adopter, all the dogs here are rehabilitated and socialized. This is part of their preparation once they’re already in a new home environment.
How to contact them:
Website: Charley’s K-9 Rescue
Address: 1610 West B Street Butner, NC 27509
Phone: +1 704-839-3015
Email: [email protected]
You may also reach out through their social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
3. Hope Animal Rescue
Another protector of unwanted, stray, abused, and neglected dogs is the Hope Animal Rescue. They’re not exclusively for dogs, so you’ll find various companionable pets here.
While they put a lot of effort into rescuing dogs, regardless of the breed, the team also further conducts outreach activities to improve the bond between an owner and their pet.
If you’re looking to adopt, they have all sorts of available dogs on the site. Simply navigate through their list of profiles and click “apply for adoption” to start. Here, you’ll also have a great chance of going home with more than 1 dog. You’ll be approved for this special request if you pass their evaluation test and requirements.
How to contact them:
Website: Hope Animal Rescue
Address: 5008 Miller Drive, Durham, North Carolina, 27704
Email: [email protected]
You may also reach out through their social media: Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Instagram
4. Rescue Ur Forever Friend
With over thousands to millions of unwanted pets, particularly dogs, Rescue Ur Forever Friend comes to save the day. They can only do so much, considering they’re volunteer-run, foster-based, and a non-profit group.
While they sure welcome many dogs, becoming their new foster family or the next dog adopter will keep them in achieving their aims and goals. They currently don’t have a physical facility, but if you want to meet the dog you like, an appointment can be made.
No doubt, the impact a rescue dog can make is immeasurable. Transform the lives of more canines at RUFF by donating today.
How to contact them:
Website: Rescue Ur Forever Friend
Email: [email protected]
5. Independent Animal Rescue
With over hundreds of unwanted dogs in the Triangle Region, the Independent Animal Rescue commits to providing a comfortable shelter for all of them, including cats.
Its mission is mainly focused on adoption, sterilization, and community education programs. By doing these things, the suffering of neglected pets will be reduced dramatically. In the United States, millions of dogs arrive in shelters and rescues, with only a few families willing to adopt.
To keep some of the shelters from resorting to euthanasia, take part in further saving these dogs. Adopt one, donate, or volunteer.
How to contact them:
Website: Independent Animal Rescue
Phone: 919-403-2221
Email: [email protected]
6. Carolina Adopt-A-Bulls Rescue
Carolina Adopt-A-Bulls Rescue is another Durham-based adoption and rescue site. They ensure that all pets, dogs included, are healthy and happy before they end up in their furever homes and families.
The reason why you should adopt from this dog rescue is that they’re foster-based. That means the dog gets enough socialization and receives proper care and treatment instead of being caged.
The focus is to rehabilitate pit bulls and pitbull-mixes while educating the public about the need to spay/neuter their pets to avoid accidental pregnancies. Along with this is an emphasis on the importance of dog training.
How to contact them:
Address: 815 Chance Road | Durham, NC 27703
Phone: 919-408-2869
Email: [email protected]
7. German Shepherd Rescue and Adoptions
The German Shepherd Rescue and Adoptions are composed of volunteers. They provide essential care and strive hard to get the dogs adopted in no time. Of course, they put value in ensuring that the canines end up in the right, responsible hands.
This is breed-specific dog rescue. It’s your perfect go-to place if German Shepherds are your ideal dogs. They occasionally welcome other breeds and mixes, so thoroughly navigate their available adoptable dogs and take time to know your prospective companion.
They have set up a profile for each dog with brief descriptions of their personality and needs. Eventually, these will be taken off and replaced by a beautiful success story of you and your GSD.
How to contact them:
Website: German Shepherd Rescue and Adoptions
Address: 1821 Hillandale Road, Suite 1B #326, Durham, NC 27705
Email: [email protected]
8. Schnauzer Savers Rescue
The Schnauzer Savers Rescue is not a breed-specific adoption site. They may specialize in the breed, but they also welcome other non-shedding dogs.
Angie Clarke is a Christian who finds delight in helping and rescuing dogs. Her work has continued for over 24 years now, and the steps include transporting, fostering, to permanent placement of these dogs.
Taking into account how much a responsibility owning a dog is, the Schnauzer Savers Rescue provides tips that will help you determine if you’re really fit as an adopter. If you are, they’ll guide you through the entire process until the Schnauzer is set to be brought home with you.
How to contact them:
Website: Schnauzer Savers Rescue
Mailing Address: P. O. BOX 21065 Durham, NC 27703
Phone: 919-451-4466
Email: [email protected]
9. Chihuahua Rescue & Transportation
The Chihuahua breed sure is fascinating. It’s a small dog with a big dog personality, plus they make great apartment pets. If you’re into Chihuahuas, then the dog rescue you should visit is the Chihuahua Rescue & Transportation.
They’re foster-based, so you have to set up an appointment if you want to meet a prospective four-legged buddy from this group. The work of this dog rescue has continued since 1996, and thousands of Chihuahuas and mixes have been placed in their permanent homes.
If you want to adopt, the requirements needed are application, vet check, reference check, and home visits to ensure your place is suitable for the needs of the dog.
How to contact them:
Website: Chihuahua Rescue & Transportation
Address: Durham, NC 27715
Email: [email protected]
10. Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary
Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary is currently being established on 83-acre land in Chapel Hill. All the animals like dogs that they welcome are all provided with extensive care, attention, and medical treatment to prepare them for their future homes.
If you have some time, you can certainly lend a hand and become part of their volunteer team. You can also become a foster parent so that another space in the dog rescue becomes available for a new dog. Donations are also appreciated as this helps cover the expenses of food, vet treatments, and other essentials.
Most of all, adopting a pooch from this animal sanctuary is encouraged. Take time to scan through all the dogs posted on the website. All of them are adorable and have a story to tell.
How to contact them:
Website: Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary
Address: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Phone: 919-502-0070
Email: [email protected]
You may also reach out through their social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
11. Chatham Animal Rescue & Education
The utmost priority of Chatham Animal Rescue & Education is the health and safety of all dogs in the area of Chatham, North Carolina. Before the dogs are set up for adoption, they are first treated with love, provided with socialization, and more, so they become stable before they are brought to their new homes.
This is also an educational resource and an advocate for getting your pets sterilized to cure pet overpopulation. This organization has been running since 1975 thanks to the effort of the volunteers and the support and donations from various individuals and corporations.
Get involved by checking out their available opportunities and events.
How to contact them:
Website: Chatham Animal Rescue & Education
Address: 725 Renaissance Dr Pittsboro, NC 27312, Chatham County, North Carolina
Phone: 919-542-7203
You may also reach out through their social media: Facebook and Instagram
12. nØKill Network
The nØKill Network is more of a directory than a physical dog rescue facility. This is on the list since they regularly post available adoptable dogs in areas near you, mainly if you live in or close to Durham, North Carolina.
Check out the dogs, as they have profiles along with their images. You’ll get a glimpse of each of their personalities for an easier and quicker way of generally knowing them. Of course, you can only fully determine the right dog after multiple visitations.
The nØKill Network is a US directory where you can find several rescue centers. They highly frown upon euthanizing your dogs and only promote dog rescues and organizations that share the same value as them.
How to contact them:
Website: nØKill Network
How Much Would It Cost to Adopt a Dog in Durham, NC?
Adopting a dog in Durham, North Carolina averages from $125 to $175. This set fee would vary depending on the cost of living in the area. Typically, this is part of the requirement before the adoption process is complete and approved.
In some cases, the cost may even rise to $375, especially if you’re getting a puppy. This is due to them needing up-to-date vaccinations, health treatments to prevent flu and heartworm, spaying or neutering, and more.
If you’re looking to save or you’re tight on a budget and want to take home a dog that badly, you can opt to have senior, adult, or adolescent dogs. It all depends on which canine you can take care of the most.
Is It Worth Adopting a Dog Rescue From Durham, NC?
It’s worth adopting a dog of any breed, size, and age from Durham, North Carolina. Even though you’re just taking one dog to your home, you’re already saving another one from an unfortunate situation. Your dog leaving his space in the dog rescue center means welcoming another unwanted pooch.
If this becomes a collective effort and mission of the people living in the community of Durham, pet overpopulation, homelessness, and abuse, among others, will dramatically change to everyone’s advantage.
There’s no other place to start becoming a dog advocate than to visit your preferred dog rescue in Durham, North Carolina. Contact them now and see the change a dog rescue will make in your life!
